Riserva Naturale Orientata di Capo Gallo

The basics

Capo Gallo Nature Reserve lies less than 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the Teatro Massimo opera house in Palermo’s historic center—with your own wheels, you can reach the reserve and be ready for swimming and hiking in about 30 minutes. You can start either with the easy Marinella Trail, which runs along most of coastal Via Gallo to a defunct lighthouse in about 1 hour, or with the more challenging route to a hermitage at the summit and back.

Things to know before you go

• The reserve is ideal for travelers looking to spend some time in nature near Palermo.
• Adhere to the site’s guidelines: Stay on marked trails, don’t disturb wildlife, and never litter.
• If you plan to hike, bring water, snacks, and sun protection, and prepare to walk uneven terrain.
• There is no entry fee for most of the nature reserve.

How to get there

From Palermo, Capo Gallo Nature Reserve is easily accessible by car on a roughly 30-minute drive, mostly along Viale Margherita di Savioia. On public transportation, take the #806 Mondello line to the end of the line, past Mondello Beach.

When to get there

Like much of Sicily, Capo Gallo is beautiful year-round, but becomes punishingly hot in July, August, and September (and sometimes October). Visit the nature reserve in the springtime for hiking and wildflower viewing, and in the fall for birdwatching. If you find yourself in Palermo during the wild, sizzling summer, hike in the morning or the evening to avoid head-on heat.

A living work of art

Hike up the Coda di Volpe and Piano dello Stinco to the top of the small mountains, and you’ll find what were once anonymous ruins transformed into a hermitage and sanctuary by a local artist. The artist has created this respite by installing mosaics throughout the building—an example of untutored “outsider art” in the middle of a nature reserve.